Geri and Cordell were fighting over something stupid, as usual, when a slip of the tongue turned everything on its head. "I don't know why you're so upset about this!" Cordell yelled.
"Because I'm in love with you, you fucking idiot!" Geri shouted back. They both froze, and the blood drained from her face. "Oh, fuck," she murmured as she turned to flee.
"Don't you dare flee, Geraldine!" He aimed to follow her and did just that but she bolted from the bar and got in her car so fast he was stunned. "Holy shit," Cordell murmured to himself, sitting down in a chair so he could process the bombshell that had just been dropped on him. Ten minutes later, he locked up the building and made his way home so he could talk to someone about this. He knew they had feelings for each other but love had thrown him for a loop for some reason. He should have expected it, especially after she wanted to talk to him during the hidden camera fiasco. But they just hadn't mentioned it again, even though she was clearly pissed.
"Everything alright, Cordell?" Abeline asked once she spotted her eldest son and saw the look on his face.
"Can we sit, Mama?"
"Of course. Is something wrong?" She eyed him in concern.
They sat, and Cordell blew out a breath. "Geri and I were arguing, she told me she's in love with me, and then bolted."
Abeline clapped her hands in delight. "Sorry! I've just been waiting for this for a while," she explained off the look on his face. "What are your feelings for Geri?"
He looked down, playing with his fingers, then glanced back up at her. "I'm in love with her too, Mama. Denied it for a long time but I can't anymore. Especially not now."
"Then go tell her, Cordell Beauregard Walker. Why the hell are you still here?" She sighed, shaking her head.
"I haven't felt this way about anybody since I met Emily. And this is Geri, one of my best friends. I don't want to fuck this up, and I'm sure she doesn't either."
"You might screw this up but you can't spend your time worrying about it because that'll drive you insane. Now go see her." She smiled at him and then ruffled his hair.
Cordell sighed, stood up, quickly hugged his mother, and then made his way over to Geri's. She answered the door with shaking hands and a reddened face, giving away the fact that she had been crying. "What are you doing here? Come to turn me down?" Geri braced herself for impact.
He grabbed her face, wiped a stray tear off her face, and proceeded to kiss Geri. "Don't cry, Geraldine."
"So you're not turning me down?" Geri double checked with a wet laugh.
"Fuck no. I'm in love with you too, and you could have known that sooner if you hadn't fled," Cordell gently chided. He kissed her again. "We've spent way too long ignoring the elephant in the room. We'll be scared together."
"Sorry, I'll try not to let my fight or flight instincts take over next time. I love you. Better this time?" Geri beamed at him, pleased to finally be able to say the words out loud.
He laughed and pulled her up into his arms. He hoped they were both done letting guilt over Emily and Hoyt prevent them from letting this happen. "Good to know. I can't wait to hear it more often."
Cordell and Geri had taken way too long to get to this point but they couldn't wait to explore a romantic relationship. Years of friendship had paved the way for this, and that backbone would be a fantastic support system for them (along with their family).